KS2 SATs KS2 Science 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between a habitat and an ecosystem?
- They mean exactly the same thing
- A habitat is where an organism lives; an ecosystem includes all organisms and their environment (Correct answer)
- A habitat is bigger than an ecosystem
- An ecosystem only includes plants
Correct answer: A habitat is where an organism lives; an ecosystem includes all organisms and their environment
A habitat is the specific environment where a particular organism lives (e.g., a pond). An ecosystem includes all the living organisms in an area AND their physical environment and interactions.
Question 2: What force opposes the motion of an object moving through air?
- Gravity
- Friction
- Air resistance (Correct answer)
- Magnetism
Correct answer: Air resistance
Air resistance (also called drag) is the force that opposes the movement of an object through the air. It acts in the opposite direction to motion. Streamlined shapes reduce air resistance.
Question 3: What is the function of chlorophyll in plants?
- To absorb water from the soil
- To trap light energy for photosynthesis (Correct answer)
- To transport glucose around the plant
- To produce oxygen for breathing
Correct answer: To trap light energy for photosynthesis
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in chloroplasts in plant cells. Its function is to absorb light energy (mainly red and blue wavelengths) from the Sun to power photosynthesis.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a reversible change?
- Burning wood
- Cooking an egg
- Melting ice (Correct answer)
- Rusting iron
Correct answer: Melting ice
Melting ice is reversible because liquid water can be refrozen back into ice. Burning, cooking, and rusting are irreversible changes — you cannot return the substance to its original form.
Question 5: What is the geocentric model of the solar system?
- The Sun is at the centre
- The Earth is at the centre (Correct answer)
- There is no centre
- The Moon is at the centre
Correct answer: The Earth is at the centre
The geocentric model (proposed by ancient astronomers including Ptolemy) placed Earth at the centre of the universe, with the Sun and planets orbiting it. This was replaced by the heliocentric model.
Question 6: What is the name of the force that a surface exerts on an object resting on it?
- Friction
- Normal reaction force (Correct answer)
- Gravity
- Tension
Correct answer: Normal reaction force
The normal reaction force (or normal force) acts perpendicular to a surface, pushing up against an object resting on it. It balances gravity for stationary objects on a flat surface.
KS2 SATs KS2 Science 4
What is the difference between a habitat and an ecosystem?